Tse, who was previously managing director at Coutts, will be based in Hong Kong, the British banking giant confirmed. 

Her departure from Coutts is one of several such moves following Royal Bank of Scotland's recent sale of its non-UK private bank, operating under the Coutts brand; operations in Asia and Switzerland were sold to Swiss private bank Union Bancaire Privée.

The appointment comes amid recent media speculation that Barclays may dispose of its Asia wealth management business, a move that would put it in the same position as some other European banks that have scaled back in the region.